Garment sleeve block



May 3, 1949. E. H. MCKEEHAN v GARMENT SLEEVE BUOCK Filed Deo. 3l, 1946 me/Mm; Eugene HQ IYIKeehorn Patented May 3, 1949 UNITED STAT Es PAT ENT orme 1;.L

GARMENT SLEEVE' BLOCK Eugene H. McKeehan, St. Louis, Mo.

Application December 31, 1946?, Sera No1 71`955I7 4V Claims.V

This invention relates to a; garment sleeve block andait is primarilyl arr object ofthe invention to provide a block to be used in window display' andi whichican beV quickly applied in a manner to properly form the coat sleeves of mens wear, such as suits, overcoats, raincoats, leisurefcoats, etc.

It is the general method at the present time to form coat sleeves in window displays and the like with cardboard; tailors. waddingY and tissue paper and, which requires a considerable amount of time,l effort and ability in the proper applicationof the. same. It is a purpose of the inventionto provide a block which will. readilyelimi nate the disadvantages of this general or well known method and to provide a means to assure the correct shape of the sleeve so that the same will hang in a normal position on display forms.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved garment sleeve block, whereby certain advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a view in bottom plan of a sleeve block constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the block as illustrated in Figure 1, with a portion broken away; and

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation.

As illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the sleeve block comprises two members A and B of a material possessing requisite solidity. While it is preferred to make these members A and B of wood, they can be produced of plastic, metal or composition, and may be cut, molded or otherwise formed or shaped. The block is adapted to be engaged within the cuff portion of the sleeve of a garment and to possess sufiicient weight to cause the sleeve to effectively hang when on display and in a manner to assure a proper shaping of said sleeve. The member A in plan is of a conguration conforming to the general cross sectional form of the inner portion of the cu of `a sleeve while the member B is of a similar design in accordance with the general formation of the outer formation of the cuff. As is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the member A is preferably of a length greater than that-of the member B, although, of. course,.tnis

may be varied. Y

The: inner or opposed faces;y of the` members;-

A and B- areiiat andat'substantially right1 anglesxv to: the longitudinal axes of. the. member-sl. The.

rear face I of; thernember. A'below its'axialcenter" isprovided with; ai socket. or recess- 2v in which is snuglyreceived anendportionof an-Iexpansible member` 3 herein discloseda as a.` coil. springK off. requisite tension. The opposite end portion' ot this member or spring- 3 isreceived within. a

socket or opening 4 in the inner or flat tace if of the member B. This` membenv or spring 3 serves to, normally urgethe members A andiB- outwardly `one with respect to the other and particularly when applied within the cuff of a sleeve to assure proper forming of the sleeve for the purposes of display.

The inner or rear face I of the member A below its axial center is provided with an outstanding elongated dowel pin 6 of desired length and which in the present embodiment of the invention has one end portion snugly engaged within a socket or pocket 'I in said inner or rear face I and adhesively held therein. This dowel pin 6 freely and snugly engages within an opening 8 disposed through the member B whereby the members A and B are effectively maintained in desired assembled relation, yet are capable of having independent movement one with respect to the other in opposite directions as determined by the requirements of practice and particularly when in applied position within the cui of a sleeve.

Adhesively or otherwise secured over the peripheral surfaces of the members A and B, is a iiexible strip 9 of felt or other desired material and the strip 9 to one side of the members A and B bridges as at I0', the space between said inner ends thereof, while the opposite or free end portions II, of the strip 9 extend inwardly and lpartially overlie said inner faces I and 5 and are adhesively or otherwise secured thereto. This strip 9 assures a most effective engagement of the members A and B within the sleeve of a garment while the portion I0 bridging the space between the inner ends of the members A and B possesses sucient exibility to offer no undue hindrance or obstruction to the desired relative movements of said members A and B.

The under surfaces of the members A and B are provided with the concave depressions I2. which provide finger holds whereby the handling of the block may be facilitated. In practice, the f 3 pockets and at the index finger within the other. This permits the ready retraction of the members A and B to facilitate application or removal.

The extremities of the member or spring 3 are held in the sockets 2 and 4 by the pins I4 eX- tending through the members A and B from sim ilar sides thereof and having holding engagement with the portions of the member or spring 3 within such pockets.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a garment sleeve block constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

1. A sleeve form retaining member adapted to be positioned within the cui portion of a sleeve, comprising two flat bodies disposed in spaced end to end relation, one of said bodies having outwardly bowed gradually converging sides joining in a rounded edge at the end of the body remote from the other body, the said other body having outwardly bowed sides in more sharply convergent relation than the sides of the said one body and merging in a rounded end edge, coupling means between the bodies facilitating their separatory movement, resilient means normally urging the bodies apart, and a eXible coupling between the bodies on the outer sides thereof'for limiting the separatory movement oi the bodies.

2. A sleeve forming member of the character stated in claim 1 where in the said guide means comprises a pin secured in one of the bodies, the other body having a, pasage therein to slidably receive the pin.

3. A sleeve forming member of the character stated in claim 1 wherein the said exible connecting means between the bodies comprises a strip of material of a width substantially equalling the height of the bodies, the strip of material being secured to the bowed side faces of the bodies and at one side of the member extending across the space between the opposing ends of the body.

4. A sleeve forming member of the character stated in claim 1 wherein the said opposing ends of the bodies have aligned bores, the coupling means between the bodies comprising a pin secured at one end in one bore and slidably eX- tending at its other end into an opposite bore and the said resilient means connecting Jelle bodies comprising a spring bridging the space between the opposed ends of the bodies and having its ends secured in opposing bores.

EUGENE H. MCKEEHAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 5 le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

